What Happened to Commissioner Gordon's Mustache?

Baby-faced Ben McKenzie does not look like the James Gordon we know and love. Here's why.

Ben McKenzie is ready for his second close-up. McKenzie, who stars as James Gordon in Fox's new Batman prequel Gotham, is back in the spotlight this fall for the first time since Southland (if you're generous) or The O.C. (if you're a realist). The baby-faced McKenzie seems years away from the weathered, mustachioed Gary Oldman, the last actor to assume the role of James Gordon (nay, Commissioner) in The Dark Knight triology. Expectedly, McKenzie is fielding all sorts of inane questions about his cultish character and the Batman franchise, in general, in the run-up to Gotham's series premiere (tonight, 8 p.m. ET, Fox).

I brought it up to [writer/creator Bruno Heller] and he goes, "No, that would look ridiculous on you. We're not doing that." You know, it's 20 years before he can grow into the maturity and wisdom that it takes to sport a mustache, and that's the line we're sticking to. Maybe 20 years from now the mustache will feel, you know, earned.